The San Diego Wave play their final match before the National Women’s Soccer League’s international break, and it’s not a stretch to call it a must-win.
The Wave (7-4-1) visit the struggling Chicago Stars (3-8-0) on Sunday with hopes of entering the hiatus on a positive note.
San Diego has lost two consecutive matches, including a 1-0 defeat to the Orlando Pride last weekend, and have dropped from first to third in the NWSL standings.
While Wave coach Jonas Eidevall said “it’s always important to win,” a victory Sunday could be the start of something special. San Diego has already exceeded expectations in 2026, and the anticipated debut of the newly acquired Catarina Macario later this summer could spell even better days ahead.
“We always try to do our very best to win,” Eidevall said. “Of course, we want to do that (Sunday) as well, but the road to go there is to focus on our performance, and the road to go there is not to focus on what will happen after that game. It is to focus on the game tomorrow, and everything we can do there in the game.”
These teams met earlier this season, with the Wave winning 2-0 at Snapdragon Stadium.
Chicago has since cratered. The Stars have lost four of their last five matches, getting outscored 11-0 in the four defeats. Earlier this week, the club parted ways with general manager Richard Feuz after falling to second-to-last in the standings.
How bad have things been? The Stars have scored a league-low five goals in 11 matches — and also allowed a league-high 22.
San Diego, meanwhile, has remained committed to Eidevall’s possession-based system. The Wave lead the NWSL with 5,905 completed passes, well ahead of second-place Gotham FC, which has recorded 5,067.
“I do think we’ve stuck to our identity, and we’re, you know, a ball-playing team,” defender Kristen McNabb said. “We like to have the ball, we like to possess in our opposition’s half, and I think we do that. I think you know it’s just the games where we’re creating chances, we’re just not finishing, but I think we are sticking to our style of play.”
The opportunities should be there for San Diego on Sunday, with the attack leaning on Brazil’s Dudinha, who leads the team with four goals and four assists. The Wave will also need midfielders Kenza Dali and Kimmi Ascanio to continue creating chances in the final third, as both have been instrumental to the club’s success this season.
Execution will be the key on Sunday. San Diego’s inability to convert chances has proven costly over the past two matches and has been the difference between earning six points and coming away with just one.
The NWSL returns in time for Fourth of July weekend. After the last two results, San Diego is focused on finishing the first third of the season with a victory.
“Every game is a must-win,” goalkeeper DiDi Haračić said. “It’s also the NWSL, so every day every team shows up, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Chicago shows up against us, so I’m excited.”
Wave (7-4-1) at Stars (3-8-0)
When: 10 a.m. Sunday
Where: Martin Stadium, Evanston, Ill.
TV: CBS Sports Network